Wentworth Hills Country Club Heather Hill Country Club Crestview Country Club Elmcrest Country Club Hertitage Country Club Wyckoff Country Club Whitney Farms Golf Course Crestbrook Park Golf Course Cold Spring Country Club Crystal Lake Golf Club Stanley Golf Course Hunter Golf Club Blackstone National Golf Club Crumpin-Fox Club

We know golfing is fun. The ownership at Wentworth Hills Country Club in Plainville, Ma. is intent on making it even more enjoyable.

The club has purchased a new fleet of “Shark” golf carts that allows players to remain in contact with the clubhouse throughout a round. They can order food and refreshments while playing the front nine and pick up orders at the turn. In addition, the carts offer yardages and golfers can even watch video tips from Greg Norman between their own shots.

The club has a unique “challenge” that gets golfers who ante up $5 or $10 on top of their greens fees a shot at a $10,000 or $20,000 prize if they make a hole-in-one on the par-three 17th hole.

And, the club has developed an app for cell phones that make the user a member of the “Wentworth Hills community” once they get the app. Individuals are notified of discounts on greens fees and other promotions and specials. A map of the course and yardages are automatically available on the user’s phone when accessing the app. ”We are trying to keep up with the younger generation that is so into technology,” said one of the club’s owners, Constant Poholek. “The hole-inone challenge is a game within the game and money we receive helps out charitable causes. We are trying to do things to make golf even more fun and keep people coming back.”

The club also continues its popular “cigar nights” where players get a round of nine holes, a cigar and dinner for a reasonable fee that changes according to the dinner provided by the club.

Wentworth Hills is a fun course to play, offering classic risk/reward holes that dare low-handicappers to “go for it,” while allowing for alternate routes to the green for less experienced golfers. The varied natural topography here features rolling, treelined fairways, large, receptive greens, ponds and lakes protecting holes, and 60 strategically-placed bunkers.

The course, while playing just over 6,200 yards from the tips, has a slope of 128 and a rating equal to its par of 71. The track places emphasis on proper club selection and accurate approach shots to the putting surfaces.

Wentworth Hills is located between Boston and Providence and only minutes from Route 495, which makes it an ideal destination for golfers from the Metro Boston area to Federal Hill in Providence.

With 27 holes of golf, Heather Hill Country Club in Plainville, Ma., makes for a full day of golfing fun. The club offers one regulation 18-hole course and one nine-hole course.

The North Course (nine holes) has a few hills that can cause uneven lies. The fairways are narrow, and the greens are small. The South Course (18 holes) has many more hills than the North Course, but doesn’t have a lot of sand bunkers. The fairways are wide open, but most are tree lined, so you just can’t spray it around and get away with it. The greens are large, and water hazards come into play on three holes.

The 18-hole course plays around 6,000 yards from the tips and has a mix of short- and medium-length par-fours, tricky par-threes, and two par-fives that can reached in two shots by big hitters. One of those par-fives is the 478yard third that is very straightforward with few hazards complicating matters, although there are two bunkers near the putting surface. The seventh and eighth are solid back-to-back par-threes, playing almost 200 yards and 180 respectively.

The back side has three short par-fours that allow you a real chance at birdie, the 334-yard 13th, the 317-yard 14th, and the final hole, a 317-yarder. Number 12 is a good par-five that plays 516 yards from the tips, with the hole doglegging to the right, which may demand a precise layup shot to set up a wedge approach.

The nine-hole layout measures 3,368 yards from the tips. It begins with a 157-yard par-three, with the toughest stretch of holes coming at three through five. The third, a par-four, plays 400 yards, while the fourth is a challenging 500-yard par-five.

The club has a restaurant and bar for after-round enjoyment.

The setting is amazing for this semi-private Country Club which exudes pride of ownership. From the moment you enter the property, making the quarter mile country side drive you can’t miss the rolling manicured greens.

Serving golfers in scenic Agawam, MA, and Suffield, CT, area, Crestview Country Club features panoramic views of the Pioneer Valley. Known as the “Gem of Western Mass,” a renowned Geoffrey Cornish design. The course is challenging enough to have played host to the PGA TOUR Travelers Championship Open Qualifier in 2015, the CT Section PGA Championship in 2013, the LPGA Friendly’s Classic from 19951998, as well as several US Amateur qualifiers.

With it’s 5 sets of tees it is very playable for all levels of golfers. Best to be ready to take on the course right out of the gate. Best not to be tying up your laces on the first tee because the first 2 holes are challenging to say the least. Even from the white tees you are looking at an opening hole (#3 hdcp) of 400 plus yards backed up by a 526-yard part 5.

A scenic collection of challenging par 3’s await as you are guided through the meticulously maintained rolling fairways with a number of risk reward par 4’s and 5’s to round out you round. Plus, a 19th hole to settle those bets. Big hitters can tee it up from as far back as 7,100 yards, the reds tees bring that down to a very manageable 5,500. There is no excuse for not being ready when you get to the first as the club has an expansive driving range, practice green and pitching area. If by chance your game needs a little tune up, the professional staff is there offering lessons, clinics and specialized instruction. Not just for the adults in the room but Juniors as well. Dining here is an art unto itself and you will want that experience, whether indoors or outdoors. The VIEW Restaurant and The California Grill feature panoramic views of the Connecticut River Valley, sumptuous food and an impressive array of cocktails and wine selections.

If you are lucky enough to live close by membership at Crestview Country Club should be a consideration. A classic country club, one of the best semi-private golf courses in the area, other amenities include: pool, tennis courts and fitness area.

Or to book a tee time call: (413) 786-0917

The once private Elmcrest Country Club is now semiprivate, under new ownership of the well-respected Crest Family, owners of Crestview Country Club. Public tee-times will be available for the 2022 season as well as the option for dual membership with its “Double Eagle” membership program. The Crest Family is pleased to offer top quality golf and value to patrons on both sides of the river. The only dual membership available in Western Massachusetts.

Elmcrest Country Club is uniquely located in the quaint Town of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts on the border of Somers, Connecticut. Rock walls, rustic bridges, and floral accents are just some of the allures of this classic New England course that winds Blackhead Mountain Country Club through beautifully wooded, rolling terrain past picturesque ponds and streams. The design of this well-conditioned course is an enjoyable round for any level of player. The course also hosted the Joe Pagos Western Massachusetts Amateur Championships and MIAA Division I Golf Championships. Elmcrest’s expansive facilities, situated on over 110 acres of private land, offer a sanctuary to all who become members. Our professional team of PGA professionals, event planners, culinary and service staff, as well as our GCSAA certified golf maintenance team have one goal in mind; making your every visit at Elmcrest a special one. Join us, and see why you will want Elmcrest Country Club will become your home away from home! To book a tee time or speak to someone in the Pro Shop: (413)525-4653 For the Main Office: (413)525-6641

Heritage Country Club in Charlton, Massachusetts has long been a favorite of locals and those golfers who like to throw their sticks in the trunk and drive a bit to play a real good course. Heritage offers private club conditions and amenities at affordable rates.

Heritage CC has joined Golfing Magazine’s growing list of courses you can play when you subscribe to our magazine. You get a complimentary round of golf with a small service fee charged when you arrive to take care of a motorized cart for the round.

The 18-hole course at Heritage Country Club features 6,335 yards from the longest tees and a par of 71. The course rating is 69.3 and it has a slope rating of 118. The layout was designed by Donald Hoenig, with the track opening for play in 1964. Shane Bayer manages the course as General Manager.

There are a mix of holes at Heritage CC that will keep you entertained through your entire round. Some of the fairways are rather tight, so accuracy is called for off the tee to get you involved in the hole from the tee box.

The layout starts off in stern fashion, with a pair of fairly long par-fours followed by a 200yard par-three where par is a good score indeed. The fourth is a 452-yard par-five that is reachable in two shots for long hitters.

The fifth hole is a beast of a par-five, playing around 600 yards and it’s a true three-shot hole to get the putting surface. Number eight is a par-four of around 300 yards where birdie awaits before moving on to the monstrous 490-yard parfour ninth. The ninth can also be played as a parfive, which makes sense for most golfers. The back side also starts off tough, with two par-fours of around 400 yards sandwiched around another long par-five of about 600 yards. The 305yard par-four 14th is a birdie hole and then it is on to a demanding finish that includes another parfive that measures almost 600 yards from the back tees. Better bring a great long game when you play here and tee off from the tips. The wise option the first visit may be playing from one tee up, which will put the total yardage to around 6,000, shortening some of those long par-fives.

Afamily-owned and operated, a semi-private country club in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Wyckoff Country Club is an 18-hole, par 69, 6100-yard championship golf course built on the beautiful rolling property at the base of Mount Tom.

Wycoff CC has an interesting mix of holes; a number of short par--fours that can be attacked with a lusty drive and a shortiron or wedge to the putting surface, only two par-fives, one of which, the 478-yard 13th, can also yield birdie to long hitters that can reach the green in two, two par-fours that play over 400 yards from the tips, and several strong parthrees (there are five short holes in all on the layout). The 18th is perhaps the most difficult par-three and a cool way to finish a round. It’s a whopping 229 yards from the tips.

The course begins with a 301-yard-par four that can get your day off to a nice start. Then it’s on to one of those long par-fours, 401-yards from the tips, followed by a very good, 531-yard par-five that is a three-shot hole to get the green for all but the longest hitters.

The toughest hole on the front side is the 421-yard par-four sixth where par is never a given, even for the best players. The front side ends with two par-trees of modest length sandwiched around a 389-yard par-four.

The back side has a mix of short and medium-length par-fours, in addition to a 478-yard par-five at the 14th. The 16th is another tough parthree, playing 213 yards from the back markers, followed by a 345-yard parfour and then the closing par-three hole. You will be called upon to hit pretty much every club in your bag at Wycoff. If your driver and fairway woods and hybrids are on fire, you can score low here. But nothing is a given at this track. While only around 6,000 yards from the tips, the layout has plenty of bite, especially if you get wayward on your tee shots and approaches.

Wycoff Country Club is accessible to our subscribers this year as part of our Course Play Stimulus Program. It is certainly worth a visit.

Wycoff Country Club

Holyoke, Ma. 413-536-3602

The Whitney Family originally established the property on which Whitney Farms Golf Club in Monroe, Ct. now sits as a farm with rare race horse breeding stables. A dairy farm existed on this land as well.

The land was purchased in the mid-1970’s by Chris Bargas, Sr. and after a three-year design project, Whitney Farms opened as a public course in 1982. During this time, over three hundred homes were added to form a desirable golf community.

In the process of re-designing the land, the architects took advantage of the ponds, scenic views and natural wildlife in its overall routing. The 18-hole course was designed by Hal Purdy and built by Bargas, Sr. Yardages range from 5,480 yards to 6,714 yards, with slope levels of 127 to 134.

The layout starts in stern fashion, with three holes that will test you immediately. The first is a 426 yard par-four, the second another parfour measuring over 400 yards, and the third a 526 yard par-five. After letting up a bit, the front nine again rears its head with four difficult holes to end the outward journey. There are two par-fives that play over or around 500 yards and a pair of par-trees that play 200 yards or longer. The back nine is a bit less severe with shorter par-fours where birdie awaits. But you’ll also encounter two par-fives that play over 560 yards from the tips, and the final hole is a brutal, 442-yard par-four that can make or break a round. Whitney Farms has been recognized for its value and has received top marks for its condition by Golf Digest, Connecticut Magazine, Connecticut Post and Connecticut Golf Magazine. Stop by the Sand Trap Grille and Bar for a bit to eat and libations after your round. The Grille has a relaxed, Scottish pub feel to it, which only enhances your visit to this very fine upper Fairfield County club.

Originally a nine-hole private golf club, purchased by the town of Watertown in 1975, a second nine holes were added in 1980 to make Crestbrook Park Golf Course one of the best daily fee tracts in the Greater Waterbury, Ct. area.

Crestbrook, always in good condition, features fast sloping greens and has four sets of tees for all levels of play. It is complete with a full service pro shop and a five-acre practice facility.

The course, which plays almost 7,000 yards from the tips and features a number of elevation changes, has an interesting mix of holes, from par-fives that demand thoughtful tee and approach shots to beefy par-threes, like the 228-yard seventh where the tee shot must clear a pond to reach the putting surface. The sixth hole is another beautiful design. The par-five plays 527 yards from the back tees and the drive must come close to a small stream that dissects the fairway, which will leave you with a legitimate shot to hit the green in two.

Jan Wivestad, PGA, offers group and private lessons, both indoor and outdoor, and oversees the leagues that operate out of Crestbrook every day, including the men, women, junior and special golf programs. From apparel for men and women, bags, clubs, all brands of golf balls to shoes and training aids, the pro shop offers a very wide variety of choices for any golfer. In addition to the course, players and non-golfers can enjoy the newly renovated Sunset Grille at Crestbrook Park, which offers “family dining with a view.” There’s an 85-seat dining room and outdoor deck with a majestic view of Merriman Pond, as well as an intimate 55-seat private dining room on the lower level with an outdoor patio. It’s a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy liquid refreshments and some well crafted dishes after a round on the challenging 18-hole championship track.

Visit www.CrestbrookPark.com

Designed to bring world class golf to Western Massachusetts, Cold Spring Country Club, is an 18-hole semi-private course located about midway between Springfield and Worcester in scenic Belchertown, Ma. Designed by Mary Armstrong, completed in 2010 and opened for play in 2012, Cold Spring Country Club is an up-and-coming par 71 golf course, with its 6,521 yards set on rolling hills that boast of breathtaking vistas in nearly every direction. Each hole has up to 5 sets of tees, enabling golfers of all levels to play an exciting mix of six par 3s, seven par 4s and five par 5s.

It all starts with a tough 216-yard parthree. From the highest tee box on the course, enjoy a complete panoramic view of Central Massachusetts facing south. Normally you will need one less club because of the steep drop, but watch the wind here. If constant prevailing winds are in player’s face it will require one or two more clubs. The trees on either side of the tee box will keep players honest, by making them hit down the chute. But there’s lots of wide open room the rest of the way.

The par-five 495-yard seventh hole plays right to left off the tee and with a good tee shot a player can get home in two. The best shot is a driver with a big draw to a large landing area. Just beware of the bunkers on the right side. How well you score depends on your 3rd shot into the green. You will need to pick which side of the green to shoot for-choose right or left depending on the placement of the pin. There are unique double approaches created by a large “bump” that protects the center of the green. The 18th is a nice finisher, a 386-yard par-four that plays quite a bit longer. There is plenty of room off the tee with fairway bunkers on the left. If you play from the back tees you must hit a good drive, with the tee shot taking you over Roaring Brook, and your second shot is severely uphill to a very well-bunkered green with a false front.

Since 1960, Crystal Lake Golf Club in Haverhill, Ma. has been one of the premiere public golf courses in the Merrimack Valley, located only 35 minutes from downtown Boston.

The course offers some of the finest rolling bent grass greens in the area, lush wide fairways, light rough, manicured bunkers, rolling tree-lined terrain, and a well-thought out design by Geoffrey Cornish of Cornish Golf Designs. Crystal Lake provides a fun, yet challenging round of golf that will be played under four and half hours on weekends. Every club in your bag will be used and a memorable golf experience is guaranteed.

The club is also known as one of the best priced courses for the value in New England, with a caring staff, and a proactive membership program, including a “fun” tournament event calendar.

Acquired by Sterling Golf Management in 2018, Crystal Lake Golf Club continues to provide guests and members with a unique and affordable golf experience.

Situated near Crystal Lake, the course features a multitude of challenging yet approachable holes for all types of players. Take the fifth for instance. The par-five plays around 500 yards from the tips and bends ever so softly to the right, which makes going for the green in two shots risky.

The 18th is a very reachable-in-two 448-yard par five where birdie, or perhaps even an eagle, can really bring your round to a delightful conclusion.

The 27-hole Stanley Golf Course in New Britain, Ct. has long been considered one of the premier daily fee facilities in the state. With three distinct nines to select from and some of the best conditions in the Greater Hartford area, Stanley has a dedicated following among the state’s golfers.

Some modifications were made a few years back to the course, with several new or reshaped holes created and some shifting of the nines, which made the course even more interesting and a tad more challenging.

The White Nine is a friendly track that has a nice mix of holes. The first hole, a 510-yard par-five, is a straight forward test and the green is reachable in two for big hitters. The second hole plays 442 yards from the back tees and par is well defended by the hole’s length and bunkers that guard the putting surface. The 330-yard par-four sixth hole and 123yard par-three seventh conspire to offer wonderful back-to-back birdie opportunities. The Red Course is also mostly friendly, with a few toughies, like the 424 yard par-four sixth, which presents perhaps the meanest challenge. The Red Nine’s seventh hole, a 508-yard par-five, is a strong design and doglegs from left to right. There is water about halfway to the green that must be avoided off the tee.

The Blue Course is a very fair, tough routing that has two strong par-fives and one of the most demanding par-fours at the club, the 434yard seventh that has a pond guarding the right side of the green. The Red, in fact has its own Amen Corner, with the sixth hole, a short, 331-yard par-four that doglegs sharply left near the approach to the green, the aforementioned seventh, the 147-yard par-three eighth that has water guarding the green, and the 461-yard ninth, which can be reached in two shots with a strong drive that sets up a hard draw with a fairway wood to a green that sits a bit to the left.

The Hunter Golf Club in Meriden, Ct. offers a wellrounded test of golf, with great views of surrounding trap rock ridges and Castle Craig in Meriden’s Hubbard Park, which can be seen while playing the fifth hole.

The course has in the past been named the number seven public golf course in the state by Golfing Magazine, and has been named a top 10 course by Connecticut Magazine. The track played host to the 2001 Connecticut Women’s State Amateur, as well as the Senior New England Public Links Championship, and the yearly City Championship for Meriden residents.

The layout has one of the most challenging and perplexing opening holes you will find anywhere. It’s only 368 yards from the back tees, but a stream dissects the fairway a little over halfway to the green, so the dilemma is to take driver and risk hitting it short or right and into the water, or lay up and be left with a long approach to an elevated green.

The 10th hole is a demanding 587-yard par-five that bends to the left and has water hazards on the left side of the fairway and near the green, which makes the second shot and approach tricky.

Water again complicates matters on the 182-yard par-three 11th, with ponds flanking the putting surface. Choose your club for the tee shot wisely because if you wander even a bit left or right you will find trouble. The 513-yard par five 18th is a truly superb finishing hole. You will want to hit your drive as close as you can to a stream that runs across the fairway about two thirds of the way to the green. Then it’s a decision on whether to try for the putting surface in two shots or lay up and have a wedge for your third shot. The hole can make or break a round and decide a match.

The course plays 6,604 yards from the tips and has four sets of tees to meet the talent of any player.

The Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston, Ma., near the Vermont bordcr, is a challenging test of golfing ability.

Many of the holes are tree-lined, and gorgeous in the with ample bunkering and enough water to create a few jangled nerves as the round proceeds. Some of the greens are elevated, further complicating proper club selection, especially when the breeze kicks up. The course blends perfectly with the stunning natural landscape that is this section of New England. The layout plays a little over 7,000 yards from the tips and has several of the best holes in the region.

The eighth is an amazing par-five and is certainly the most difficult hole on the course. The eighth starts from an elevated tee box and a lake plays a factor on the first, second and third shots, as it must be avoided and then cleared on any approach to a rather large green protected by bunkers. Make a five here, never mind a birdie, and you have done something special indeed.

The 14th hole is a par-five that measures 527 yards from the tips. It’s fairly narrow and guarded by trees on both sides of the fairway. The third shot is to a green that has water fronting its left side and bunkers short and long.

Where Memories Begin.

1158 Riverside Street Portland, ME 207.797.3524 www.RiversideGolfCourseMe.com

The par-five 18th at Blackstone National Golf Club in Sutton. Ma, is a favorite for anyone who has played it. The hole measures just 485 yards from the tips, but it’s loaded with all kinds of trouble if you wander.

The tee shot must be true to find a landing area protected by wetlands and woods. Big hitters can reach the putting surface in two shots after a strong drive, but the approach is uphill and there are a number of deep bunkers guarding the putting surface. The smart play is to lay up in front of the green and knock the ball onto the putting surface with a wedge.

The 18th is a solid finisher and just one indication of the thoughtful approach Rees Jones put into the layout. The course is tucked into the wooded countryside of the Blackstone Valley area of southeastern part of the Bay State.

One of the sweetest aspects of the track is that while it is challenging for the best players, Jones incorporated only a few forced carries, which makes it playable for mid- and even high-handicappers. Ample fairways allow a player to stay in the hole even after a less than perfect tee shot. There is bunkering guarding the rather large greens, so it is important to choose the proper club to find the target.

Blackstone National, which can stretch to almost 7,000 yards from the tips and plays to a par of 72, has some superb short holes that are also visually enticing. One of the most stunning par-threes on the layout is the 173-yard 11th, which demands a tee shot over a small pond. It shouldn’t be difficult to find the green. But any pulled tee shot may find the wet stuff.

Relax before or after your round on the new Heron’s Nest deck with lunch, dinner or your favorite 19th hole refreshments!